OPP BEGIN FOUR WEEKS OF BOAT SAFETY TRAINING IN GRAVENHURST

GRAVENHURST — Now that boating restrictions have been lifted on Muskoka lakes and rivers following spring flooding, pleasure boaters and commercial traffic will see a large police presence in June.

And it has less to do with monitoring wakes along some parts of shorelines still protected by sandbags.

For the next four weeks OPP marine training will take place, based as usual at the Ontario Fire College on Lake Muskoka.

Police boats were being put in the water at the Muskoka Wharf Monday, as officers bunked in at the college.

There are 12 student boats, two for instructors and one spare in case a boat breaks down.

The month-long training for the OPP — and some affiliate police training partners — is the longest.

Previously they only set aside two to three weeks for the intensive instruction in boat safety and officer training.